by AURORA, Ill. – The Lakeland College men’s basketball team drained 13 three-pointers and whittled a 16-point second half deficit down to four but couldn’t complete the comeback in an 84-79 loss to Aurora (Ill.) University Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans won the battle for first place in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, shooting 45.2% and getting to the free throw line 32 times to take sole possession of the top spot in the league at 8-1 (10-3 overall). Lakeland remains second in the conference after dropping to 6-2 in the NACC and 10-3 overall.
The Muskies trailed for all but two minutes in the first half, falling down by 10 points at halftime and going down by as many as 16 early in the second half when Brandon Smith’s jumper for Aurora made it 57-41. Despite Lakeland’s attempts to close in, the Spartans would maintain a double-digit lead and pushed it back to 16 again when Kyle Pilmer finished off a three-point play to make it 62-46 with 10:51 left in the game.
The Muskies fought back behind Joey Burris (Sr.-Kiel, Wis.), who scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half. Burris hit four three-pointers in the second half, and Lakeland got within four on a layup by Jacob Servais (So.-Coon Valley, Wis.) that made it 72-68 with 2:53 to play. The Muskies couldn’t get any closer though until Burris hit a three with 17 seconds left to make it 82-79, but Smith salted it away for the Spartans with two more free throws for the final margin.
Lakeland shot just 35.5% for the game, hitting 27 of 76 shots from the field. The Muskies were actually better from three-point range, though, making 13 of 36 (36.1%) from long distance.
Burris was joined in double figures by Derick Denny (Sr.-Oneida Tribe of Wis.), who scored 16 points and hit five three-pointers. Brandon James (Fr.-Rockford, Ill.) added nine points, while Travis Kell (So-Madison, Wis.) paced the rebounding effort with 10 boards.
Aurora made 28 of 62 from the field and also was 21-for-32 from the foul line (65.6%). The Spartans also enjoyed a 51-43 rebounding advantage.
The Muskies return to action Wednesday when they host Rockford (Ill.) University at 7 p.m. at the Woltzen Gymnasium in another conference game.
